Starting-lever for explosive-engines.



R. MOKEEI STARTING LEVER F013. EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED33.16, 1910.

96 9,798, Patented Sept. 13,1910.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I m mwk R. MoKEE. STARTING LEVER FOR BXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

8 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 13,1910.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1910.

'HHIIIWIIHII'Il W 9w inimum f ATTORNEY r ROBERT MGKEE, OF PHILADELPHIA.PENNSYLVANIA.

STARTING-LEVER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Application filed February 15, 1910. Serial No. 543,991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r McKee, a citizen of the United States, andresident of the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Starting-Levers for EX-plosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to starting levers focexplosive engines, andconsists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings whichform a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of starting levermechanism which shall be adapted for starting engines of the explosivetype to prevent injury from the back-kick in case of premature explosionand reversal of the direction of the crank shaft.

My invention in the particular form illust'ated is more especiallyadapted for use in connect-ion with automobile engines wherein theengine is located within a housing back of the cooler, and the crank isarranged upon the outside of the cooler and in the front of theautomobile.

My invention consists of certain improvements in mechanical. appliancesfor accomplishing the above purposes, and which improvements are fullydescribed hereinafter and more particularly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings :-F igure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of my improved starting lever mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectionalfront elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the same.

A is the crank shaft of the engine, and at its end is provided with anannular flange B which may be secured in place by a socket B screwed orfastened to the end of the shaft.

C is a friction ring surrounding the flange part B and having a face Dwhich is aranged in front of the end of the shaft and its annularflange, and interposed between this face D and the end of the flange ofthe shaft A is a friction washer G.

Arranged upon the op ositeface of the flange B is an annular fi'ictionwasher F and against this washer an annular bushing E presses, saidbushing being screwed into the open end of the ring structure C. Thisbushing E may be adjusted by means of an ordinary spanner wrench and mayprovide any degree of clamping friction by the parts C, D, E, F and (1:constituting a friction driving device upon the annular flange B of theengine shaft. To lock the bushing E in its adjusted positions, I provideit with a block E fitted in a radial groove E and clamped in position bya screw E. The

outer part of this block engages fine teeth I in t 1e rim of the ring Cto hold the bushing from being moved.

Extending in axial alinement with the end of the engine shaft A, is atubular bearingL which projects from the main frame M and through thelower casing of the cooler M to the front of the automobile. Journaledin this bearing L is a shaft 0 having capacity for rotation andlongitudinal adjustment, and said shaft 0 acts as a hub and is providedwith a hand crank P. The inner end of the shaft 0 is provided with a hub0 having an annular series of ratchet teeth Q which engage acorresponding annular series of ratchet teeth R which project from thefront of the ring structure C. By means of these ratchet teeth Q and Rthe rotation of the crank P may be made to rotate the ring C and theremainder of the parts which constitute the friction driving devices forimparting rotation to the engine shaft A.

The ring (l is provided on its circumference with ratchet teeth H withwhich a pawl I, pivoted at J to the frame K, engages, to

prevent the rin C from being rotated backward, but whici iermits it tofreely rotate with the crank when manipulated. A spring I normallypresses the pawl into contact with the ratchet teeth. Secured to thepawl I is an arm T, and said arm extends over the hub O of the crankshaft 0, and said hub is provided with a cam S which approximates almostan arc of 180, and so located with respect to the crank that, when thelatter is down or when supported by the usual straps or other supportingdevices common in automobiles, it will act upon the arm T to throw thepawl I against the action of the spring I and out of engagement with theratchet teeth H. Moreover, this action can only take place when theratchet teeth Q and R are out of engagement and the shaft 0 has beenshifted forward to bring the cam S under the armfil,- and which is thenormal position of the apparatus during the running of the engine. Whenthis position of the parts is bad, it will be seen that the ratchetteeth H on the ring Gare being rotated with the engine withoutcontacting with the pawl I, and consequently permitting the engine torun without the noise which would otherwise be created by the pawl.engaging the ratchet teeth as they rapidly rotate under it.

When it is desired to start the engine from the condition of rest, thecrank shaft 0 is turned so that the crank 1 comes above the shaft. Thisbrings the cam S to the lowest position and out of contact with the armT; the crank is then pushed inward toward the engine against the actionof spring IV until the ratchet teeth (.2, engage the ratchet teeth R. Inthis condition of the apparatus, the arm T is not affected by therotation of the cam S and is held slightly above the hub O of shaft 0while permitting the pawl I to be spring pressed into engagement withthe ratchet teeth H. A rotation of the crank, under the aboveadjustment, causes the ring C to be rotated, and at the same time thepawl I locks it against backward rotation; this also insures the crankagainst backward rotation in case of premature explosion and reversal ofthe direction of rotation of the shaft A. As soon as the engine shaftAbegins to rotate in the right direction, namely the direction of thenormal movement of the crank E, the ratchet teeth R, traveling fasterthan the ratchet teeth Q, push the crank shaft 0 with its cam S outwardwith the result that the lever T may be acted upon by the cam S andlifted, and this throws the pawl I out of engagement with the travelingratchet teeth H. The spring IV holds the crank shaft hub and its teeth Qout of engagement with the teeth R- of the friction ring when the .theshaft 0 is concerned, its particular mode of attachment is immaterial solong as the axis of said shaft is in axial alinement with the axis ofthe engine shaft A. I

The apparatus disclosed is shown in ,a simple form of design in whichall of the parts are in alinement and rotatable about the same axis, butit is evident that modi ficat-ions of this design might be em loyed,

and while they would be more comp icated, the essential elements of themechanism may 'be incorporated in said modified form of design withoutdeparting from the essential features of the invention, and I thereforedo not restrict myself to this particular de sign above described thesame being illustrated as an example and not as a restriction.

I have shown my invention in the form in which I have found it mostexcellently adapted for commercial use, but I do not restrict myself tothe details thereof, as these maybe modified in various ways withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft having an annular flange rotatable therewith, friction drivingdevices clamping the annular flange for rotating it, means to preventthe friction driving devices from rotating in one direction butpermitting it to freely rotate in the other direction, hand operatedmeans rotatably supported and adapted to engage the friction drivingdevices for rotating them, in one direction only, and means con trolledby the hand operated device in cer tain positions of adjustment forthrowing out. of operation the means for preventing the rotation of thefriction driving devices.

2. Ina device of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft having an annular flange rotatable therewith, friction drivingdevices clamping the annular flange for rotating it, means to preventthe friction driving devices from rotating in one direction butpermitting it to freely rotate in the other direction, hand operatedmeans rotatably supported and adapted to engage the friction drivingdevices for rorating them in one direction only, and means controlled bythe hand operated device in certain positions of adjustment for throwingout of operation the means for preventing the rotation ofthe frictiondriving devices and also for locking the hand operated devices ont ofengagement with the friction driving devices when the engine shaft isbeing rotated in its normal direction.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft, friction driving devices in connection therewith for rotating itwhen starting the engine, hand operated devices for rotating thefriction driving devices and making a detachable engagement with saidfriction driving de vices which become normally disengaged when theengine starts torotate in its normal direction, retaining means toprevent rotation of the friction driving devices in a direction contraryto the normal rotationof the engine shaft, and devices to automaticallythrow and hold the said retaining means out of engagement with thefriction driving devices when the hand operated devices are out ofengagement with the friction driving devices.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of the engine shaft, friction driving devices inconnection therewith for rotating it when starting the engine, handoperated devices for rotating the friction driving devices and making adetachable engagement with said friction driving devices which becomenormally disengaged when the engine starts to rotate in its normaldirection, retaining means to prevent rotation of' the friction ivingdevices in a direction contrary to the normal rotation of the engineshaft, and devices controlled by the hand operated devices toautomatically throw the said retaining means out of engagement with thefriction driving devices when the engine shaft is rotating in its normaldirection.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft, friction driving devices in connection therewith for rotating itwhen starting the engine, hand operated devices for rotating thefriction driving devices and making a detachable engagement with saidfrictiondriving devices which become normally disengaged when the enginestarts to rotate in its normal direction, retainin means to preventrotation of the friction riving devices in a direction contrary to thenormal rotation of the engine shaft, and devices controlled by the handoperated devices when the hand oper ated part'is brought'to itsinoperative position below a horizontal plane through the engine shaftto automatically throw the said retaining means out of engagement withthe friction driving devices when the engine shaft is rotating in itsnormal direction.

, 6. 'In a device of the character described, the combination of the enine shaft, friction devices engaging the shaft by which-to rotate it atstarting said friction devices being provided with an annular series ofratchet teeth, a rotatable hand operated part for rotating the frictiondriving devices, a pawl.

engaging the ratchet teeth of the friction drlving devices to preventthem rotating in a backward direction, and connecting means between thepawl and the hand operated device for throwing the pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet teeth when the engine shaft is rotated inits normal direction.

7. In a device of the character described,

' the combination of the on he shaft, friction tating the frictiondriving devices engaging the she t by which to rotate it at startingsaid friction devices being provided with an annular series of ratchetteeth, a rotatable hand operated art for roevices and adapted to bedisengaged from the friction driving devices when normally rotating withthe engine shaft, and also provided with a cam, a pawl engaging theratchet teeth of the friction driving devices to prevent them rotatingin a backward direction, and connecling means between the pawl and thehand operated device for throwing the pawl when the engine shaft isrotated in its nor mal direction.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft having an annular flange secured to it, a rin surrounding the saidannular flange and provided with devices for creating friction upon thesaid annular flange and also provided with ratchet teeth a crank handlehaving a rotatable part axially journaled concentric with the engineshaft and having ratchet teeth to engage the ratchet teeth on the ring,a pawl to engage the ratchet teeth on the ring to prevent backwardrotation thereof, and means for throwing the pawl out of engagement withthe ratchet teeth consisting .of an arm to oscillate the pawl and a camon the rotatable part of the crank handle to oscillate the arm.

9. In avdevice of the character described, the combination of the engineshaft having an annular flange secured to it, a ring surrounding thesaid annular flange and provided with devices for creating friction uponthe said annular flange and also provided with ratchet teeth, a crankhandle having a rotatable part axially journ-aled concentric with theengine shaft and having ratchet teeth to engage the ratchet teeth on thering, a pawl to engage the ratchet teeth on the ring to prevent backwardrotation thereof, and means for throwing the pawl out of engagement withthe ratchet teeth consisting of an arm to oscillate the pawl and a camon the rotatable part of the crank handle to oscillate the arm when thecrank handle is in a position below a horizontal plane through theengine shaft and out of en-. gagement with the arm when the crank handleis above the horizontal plane through the engine shaft.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination of the engine shaft having an annular flange secured toit, a ring surroundin the sald annular flange and provided wlth devicesfor creating friction upon the said annular flange and also rovided withratchet teeth a crank handle aving a rotatable part axially journaledconcentric with the engine shaft and having ratchet teeth to engage theratchet teeth on the ring,

a pawl to engage the ratchet teeth on the ally beyond its end, a ringsurrounding the annular flange having suitable friction devices forclamping the faces of the annular flange and also provided with ratchetteeth, a pawl engaging the ratchet teeth for preventing a. backwardrotation of the ring, a crank shaft journaled in the hearing so as to berotatable and longitudinally-adjustable therein and provided withratchet teeth for engaging. corresponding ratchet teeth upon the ring torotate said ring in the normal direction of the rotation of the engagingshaft, and means for maintaining the pawl in or out of operativeengagement with the ratchet teeth of the ring.

12. In a device of the character described,-

the combination of, the crank shaft having an annular flange, a bearingextending axially beyond its end, a ring surrounding the annular flangehaving suitable friction devices for clamping the faces of the annularflange and also provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl en aging the ratchetteeth for preventing a ackward rotation of the ring, a crank shaftjournaled in the hearing so as to be rotatable and longitudinallyadjustable therein and provided with ratchet'teeth for engagingcorresponding ratchet teeth upon the ring to rotate said ring in thenormal direction of the rotation of the engaging shaft, and meansconnecting with the pawl for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet teethof the ring when the ratchet teeth of the crank handle are out ofengagement with the ratchet teeth of the ring.

"13. In a device of the character described, the combination of theengine shaft having an annular flange, a bearinglbeyond the flange, a.ring extending around; the flange and having an inwardly directedannular face in opposition to one face on the annular flange, anadjustable bushing within the ring'fo'r creating afriction upon theother;

face of the annular flange, means to prevent the rotation of the ring ina backward direction,. a shaft journaled in the bearing and having acrank handle at one end and provided at the other end with engagingmeans for rotating the ring and. its bushing in the normal direction ofrotation of the engine shaft and said shaft having; capacity forlongitudinal adjustment forpermitting a normal continuous disengagement.from the ring. 1

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of theengine shaft-having an annnlar flange, a flanged ring extending aroundthe annular flange of the engine shaft and creating a friction againstone face thereof, an annular bushing screwed into the open end oftheflanged ring, and creating a friction upon the other face of theannularflange ofthe engine *shaft, a.

locking device carried by the bushing and engaging the flanged ring tohold the bushing against movement relatively to the flanged ring, handoperated means to rotate the flanged ring and its bushing in one direction, and means to lock the flanged ring against rotation in theother direction. 3

15'. In a device of'the characterdescribed,

the combination of the engine shaft having an annular flange, a flangedring extending around the annular flange of the "engine shaft andcreating a friction againstone face thereof and having an annularrimprovided with fine teeth, an annular bushing screwed into the openend of the-flanged ring and creating a frictionupon the other face ofthe annular flange of the engine shaft, a locking device carried by thebushing havin teeth to engage the teethhon the flanged ring'to .holdthebushi-ng against movement relativelyto'the flanged ring, a

clamping screw for clamping the locking.

device to the bushing and in engagement with the flanged ring, handoperated means

